Chester County Council approves 6-month data center moratorium

Chester County, S.C. – The Chester County Council has unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on new data center applications and related developments. The temporary measure, passed on Monday, aims to provide the county time to study the impacts of data centers and prepare comprehensive development standards. During this period, the county will not accept, process, or approve any data center applications. Vice Chair Erin Mosley emphasized the need for education to make informed decisions regarding such developments.

As part of this moratorium, county leaders have scheduled two workshops, on August 13 and September 28, to gather insights from experts on data center impacts. While residents who spoke at the meeting welcomed the ban, some, like Gay Jones and Rebecca Worsham, expressed a desire for a longer or even permanent prohibition, citing concerns about the environment and humanity. Council Chair Pete Wilson clarified that there are currently no proposed or approved data centers within Chester County, dispelling some resident anxieties about existing projects. The article also briefly references a similar 150-day moratorium approved by the Charlotte City Council.